Food Processing’s Appetite for Skills initiatives

2/8/13

Festo is supporting Appetite for Skills who’s aim is to encourage and inspire young people to consider a career in engineering in the food and drink industry, starting through work placement, university/further education, degree courses or apprenticeships.

To help get the message across that food and drink is an exciting and dynamic industry to work in - Food Processing magazine has planned a number of student workshop days designed to educate and inspire young people to consider the industry as a truly positive option for their career. The students rotate around a conference, exhibition, and demonstration areas.

Festo is one of the companies that has got involved with these events, and Andy Macpherson, Industry Sector Manager – Food and Beverage at Festo delivered an animated presentation to the students and also had a display in the networking area to inspire the students as to how exciting working in the food and drink industry is.

Appetite for Skills’ Peter Whitfield explains: “With an annual turnover of more than £70billion, the food and drink sector has continued to grow throughout the recession. However, there is a critical skills gap in the industry, particularly in engineering. The sector needs young people with a passion for STEM subjects to consider the opportunities of an engineering career within this exciting sector.”